Mechanical rodeo horse



Jan. 26, 1960 P. w. HAwKlNs MECHANICAL RODEO HORSE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 2, 1958 Y lNvENToR Q2 u Z W. Ha wn s ATTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1960P. w. HAwKlNs 2,922,649

MECHANICAL RoDEo HORSE Filed April 2, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4Z INVENT ORPa uZ 'ur/ 'i115 ATTOEYS Jan. 26, -1960 P. w.,HAwK|Ns 2,922,649

MECHANICAL RoDEo HORSE Filed April 2. 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV ENT ORfau! Waw/in ATTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1960 P. w. HAwKlNs MECHANICAL RODEO HORSE5 Sheets-Sheetl 4 Filed Aprilr'Z. 1958 NVENTOR Daal Wga u/ z'nsATTORNEYS Jan. 26, 1960 P. w. HAwK|Ns 2,922,549

MECHANICAL RODEO HORSE Filed April 2. 1958 5 sheets-sheet 5 x5; sVII/4:; YIM

INVENT OR Pau! WHaw-/cz'ns BY l ATTORNEYS United States PatentMECHANICAL RODEO HORSE Paul W. Hawkins, Tucson, Ariz.

Application April 2, 1958, Serial No. 725,822

4 Claims. (Cl. 272-531) The present invention relates to mechanicalrodeo horses, and more particularly to such horses which are under thecontrol of the rider.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a mechanical rodeohorse having a two speed operation controlled by reins and simulatedspur action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical rodeo horseof the class described above which is of the coin controlled type and iscompletely self-contained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical horse ofthe class described above having a rotary forward motion and a swingingrear motion t closely simulate the action of a horse.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical rodeohorse of the class described above which is inexpensive to manufacture,easy to use, and which is completely safe for operation` by children.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical device of theclass described above on which simulated bodies of various types such asan elephant, lion, camel, or automobile can be mounted.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention shown partially brokenaway and in section for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation shown partiallybroken away and in section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along theline 3 3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the mechanism from the side opposite toFigure l.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse section taken along the line 5-5 ofFigure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 6-6 ofFigure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken along the line 7-7 of Figure l,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along theline 8-8 of Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken along theline 9--9 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure l0 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 10-10of Figure 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 11--11of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail'wherein like referencecharacters indicate like -parts throughout the several figures, the''reference numeral 20y indicates gener-allya-mechanical rodeohorse-which includesa stationary base generally indicated at B, a hollowhorse body generally indicated by. the letter H', a horse movingmechanism generally indicated by the letter M and a coin box generallyindicated by the letter C.

The base B of the rodeo horse 20 includes a generally rectangularhorizontal iloor plate 21 having a pair of resilient feet 22 positionedadjacent the rear corners thereof and a second pair of resilient feet 23positioned adjacent the front corners thereof. The resilient feet 23 aremounted on a threaded shank 24 threaded through the oor plate 21 topermit the feet 23 to be'vertically adjusted with respect thereto. Alock'nut 25 secures the threadedr shank 24 in adjusted position.

The tloor plate 21 is provided with a pair of forwardly extending spacedparallel ears 26 adjacent each of the feet 23 and having a roller 27journalled therebetween.

The rollers 27 are arranged so that the Weight of the mechanical rodeohorse 20 is normally carried on the resilient feet 22, 23 but can beshifted to the rollers 27 by tilting the horse 20 forwardly raising therear of the oor plate 21.

A pair of upright parallelv tubular standards 28, 29 have their lowerends Welded to the oor plate 21 and are connected by a reinforcing web30 extending horizontally therebetween `in upwardly spaced relation fromthe oor plate 21. An upper generally rectangular elongated horizontalplate 31 is secured tothe upper ends of the standards 28, 29 by means ofwelding, and is further connected to the standard 29 by means of adiagonal brace 32 welded therebetween.

The coin collection box C is mounted on the upper end of a tubularstandard 33 formed as an integral perpendicularly offset extension of atubular base member 34 Secured to the oor plate 21 and to the standard29. The coin collection box C is of conventional construction andincludes suitable control wires generally indicated at 35 extendingthrough the hollow standard 33 and the hollow standard 29. A wire 36extends through the hollow standard 28 and has a plug 37 secured to thefree en d thereof for attachment to a convenient outlet.

The hollow horse H includes a hollow body 38, a hollow head 39, saddle40, stirrups 41, and a plurality of horizontally aligned angularmounting brackets 42 positioned within the hollow body 38.

The horse drive mechanism generally indicated at M includes a variablespeed electric motor 43 having a base 44 secured' to the mounting plate311. A transmission 45 is secured to the mounting plate 31 and isoperatively connected to the motor 43 by a flexible coupling 46. Thetransmission 45 has a pair of oppositely extending shafts 47. A crank 48is mounted on the outer end of each of the shafts 47 and e-ach areprovided` with` a crank pin 49.

A motor controller 50 is mounted on the rear end of the mounting plate31 and is electrically connected to the motor 43 to controlthe operationthereof. The motor controller 50 operates the motor 43 in two speeds,slow and fast. k v Y A pair of brackets 51, 52 are xedly secured to themounting plate 31 adjacent the motor controller 50 and have a transverseshaft 53 secured to the upper ends thereof parallel to the mountingplate 31. A brace member 54 is integrally connected to the upper end ofthe upright brackets 51, 52, as best seen in Figures 3, 5 and 6.

. A pair of spaced apart parallel mounting rails 55, 56 aresecured in'generally horizontal relation to the brackets 42 within the hollow body38 of the horseI-I. A plate 57 extends-integrally upward-lyv fromltheforward end portions of' the mounting 'rails 55, 56 and have ,the crankpins -49 -journalled centrally therein'suspending the forward ends ofthemounting rails 55, S6 from the transmission 45.

An upwardly extending ear 58 is iixedly secured to the rear end portionof each of the mounting rails 55, 56, as can be best seen in Figures 2,4 and 5. A p air of links 59 have their upper ends journalled onopposite ends of the shaft 53 and their lower ends pivoted onl pins 60having its opposite ends mounted in the ears 58 and the mounting rails55, 56. The links 59 support the rear end portions of the mounting rails55, 56 to permit swinging movement thereof.

A safetyrshield generally indicated at 62 includes a vertical legportion 63 secured in depending relation to each of the mounting rails55, 56 and an integral perpendicularly offset generally horizontal leg64 formed integrally on the lower end of the vertical leg 63 andextending inwardly therefrom. The forward ends of the arm `91 have theiropposite ends connected byv parallel pivot links 92. A coil spring 93has one end thereof connected to one of a pair of transverse mountingbrackets 94 fixed to the horse body 38 at the opposite ends thereof andsupporting the bracket 90. The spring 93 has the opposite end thereofconnected to an ear 95 formed on the arm 91. The coil spring 93 normallybiases the arm 91 away from the switch actuating arm 80.

The cable 89 has a coil spring 96 connected to the rear end thereof andthe opposite end of the coil spring 96 is connected to an eye 97 on thelower end of the forward j pivot link 92 so that forward movement on thespring arm horizontal leg 64 of the safety shield 62 are connected by abrace 65 secured transversely thereto. It should be noted that thehorizontal leg 64 of the safety shield 62 underlies the plate 31 toeffectively prevent access to the mechanism M by unauthorized persons.

A micro-switch 66 is secured to the plate 31 and has an arm 67 extendinglaterally therefrom toward the mounting rail 56. The arm 67 has a roller68 journalled on the outer end thereof, for reasons to be assigned. Theswitch 66 is connected electrically to the motor controller 50 and whenclosed shifts the motor controller to fast speed operation of the motor43.

, A bracket 69 is secured to the mounting rail 56 by securing elements70 and has a transverse horizontal bushing 71 integrally securedthereto. The bushing 71 has a square opening and a square shaft 72 issupported for horizontalsliding movement therein. The square shaft 72extends through the body 38 and has a plate 73 xedly secured to theouter end thereof.

A plate 74 is iixedly secured to the inner end of the shaft 72 adjacentthe roller 68 so that lateral inward movement of the shaft 72 will movethe roller 68 and arm 67 to close the contacts of the switch 66. A coilspring 75 is connected at one end to the plate 74 and at the other endto an eye 76 secured to the bushing 71.

The spring 75 normally biases the plates 73, 74 away from the switch 66.The plate 73 is positioned with respect to the horse H so that the heelof the rider can press the plate 73 inwardly to switch 66 actuatingposition by following the normal action of spurring the horse toincrease its speed.`

A second micro-switch 77 is secured to a longitudinally extendingupright plate 78 supported at its forward end on a transverselyextending upright plate 79 secured to the "shaft 53. The lower rear edgeof the upright plate 78 is secured to the medial portion of the brace54. The switch 77 'has an upstanding actuating arm 89 for closing thecircuit in the switch 77 when the arm 80 is depressed. The switch 77 iselectrically connected to the motor controller 50 and when actuatedcontrols the motor 43 so as to produce a slow speed therein. An arm 81is positioned vwithin the head 39 of the horse H in generally uprightrelation and has the upper end 82 thereof movable longitudinally withinthe head of the horse. A curb bit generally indicated at 83 includes apair of spaced parallel side bars 84 connected by a shaft 85 pivotallymounted in the head 39 adjacent the lower end of the arm 8-1. The shaft85 has an offset central portion 86 which extends upwardly and has thelower end portion of the arm 81 integrally secured thereto.

Rotation of the shaft 85 caused by pulling on the reins 87 connected tothe lower end of the side bars 84 swings the upper end of the arm 81forwardly. An eye 88 is fixed to the arm 81 intermediate the upper andlower ends thereof and has an operating cable 89 secured thereto.

A generally horizontal bracket 90 is xedly secured to the horse body 38in overlying relation to the switch 77. A switch actuating arm 91 ispositioned in spaced parallel 81 moves the cable 89 forwardly swingingthe arm 91 forwardly and downwardly to actuate the switch 77. A stop 98is mounted on the bracket 90 to prevent the arm 91 from moving too farforwardly.

The switch 77 operating the slow speed control of the motor 43 isactuated by a normal pulling back on the reins 87 in the same manner asis normally used in stopping a horse.

In the operation of the invention, the rider mounts into the saddle 40and drops a coin into the coin collection box C which energizes themotor 43 through the motor controller 50. The motor 43 operates at firston a slow rate to permit the rider to adjust the motion before hedepresses the high speed switch 66. The motor controller V 50 is of thetype which returns to the slow speed position that the circuit to themotor controller 5G is broken after a suitable lapse of time.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, itshould be understood that numerous structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A mechanical rodeo horse comprising a` base, front and rearupstanding parallel standards immovably fixed to said base, a horizontalplate immovably fixed to the upper ends of said standards and supportedby said standards in immovable relation to said base, a motor mounted onsaid plate, a transmission mounted on said plate and connected to saidmotor, a pair of crank arms extending oppositely from said transmissionand driven thereby, a pair of upstariding brackets fixed to said plateat the end thereof opposite said transmission, a pair of oppositelydisposed links pivotally connected at their upper ends to said brackets,a pair of spaced parallel generally horizontal horse mounting railspivotally secured at one end to the lower end of said links and havingtheir opposite ends mounted on said crank arms whereby the ends of saidhorse mounting rails supported on said crank arms are moved in a rotarymotion therewith and the opposite ends supported on .said links aresimultaneously oscillated by said tcrank arms, and a'simulated horsebody iixedly secured to said horse mounting rails.

2. A device as claimed in claim l wherein motor speed control means ismounted on said plate and electrically connected to said motor forcontrolling the speed of said motor, a switch mounted on said plate foractuating said motor control means to a fast speed condition, a secondswitch mounted on said bracket for actuating said motor control means toa slow speed condition, means extending transversely of said horse body,and having an operating plate exteriorlyof the flank of said horse bodyin a position to be impacted by the heel of a rider for actuat- 6 ingsaid rst named switch, a horse head on said horse 4. A device as claimedin claim 1 wherein coin conbody, and rein actuated means on said horsehead and in trolled horse body energizing means is mounted on said saidhorse body for controlling said last named switch. base in laterallyspaced relation to said horse body.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said rein controlled meansincludes a pivoted bit connected to said 5 References Cited in the me 0fthis Patent reins, an arm having one end xed to said pivoted bit UNITEDSTATES PATENTS and the opposite end extending upwardly in said horsehead, and a resilient connection extending between said ggl Alggvl armand said last named switch for closing said last named switch to actuatesaid motor control means to a 10 FREGN PATENTS 810W Speed =11diti11742,592 Great Britain Dec. 3o, 1955

